Blogs & Ecology

The free-range turkey we bought for this year's Thanksgiving was ordered through a local organic and natural foods store. And it was about three times the cost of the conventional turkeys they were selling at the mega-supermarket.

But our turkey was raised naturally, without genetically-modified feed grown with synthetic, nutrient-depleting fertilizers. The feed wasn't covered in pesticide residue either. There was also minimal processing, minimal storage, and transportation was less than 30 miles.

Harvesting potatoes near Bonby, North Lincolnshire. Potatoes are among the top 12 most heavily pest- and weed killer-washed produce. Photo by D. H. Wright.

While the Canadian Cancer Society has been vocal about banning cosmetic pesticides in homes, they've been relatively mum on commercial use of pesticides...until now.

A new report released by an environmental organization based in Eugene, Oregon called the Oregon Toxics Alliance reveals that children may unknowingly be exposed to toxics such as pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. So the question is raised, are YOUR children safe from pesticides at schools?

photo: Greg Peterson

The millions of Monarch butterflies that migrate through Michigan's Upper Peninsula en route to Mexico every year can thank Marquette teens and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) youth for their future survival. As part of the Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project in Marquette they are protecting these and other pollinators dying across the world, especially in the Midwest, with Colony Collapse Disorder. Check out how these teens reached out to help our critical pollinators survive....

Image source: Bonterra Greens the Greens

Image source: Westchester.gov

While drug companies continue to say its not happening, school nurses around the country are saying more and more parents are at a loss for solutions, reports MSNBC. One nurse even reported a parent, whose child has been battling head lice all summer, was extremely frustrated and unsure what to do next. So why are common medications like Nix, Rid, Ovide and Kwell still prescribed? Simply because they do work on some cases, some of the time.

Image source: Getty Images

Cattle ranchers in Nebraska are increasingly turning to goats to get rid of their weed problems. Referred to as "walking weed eaters", the North Platte Telegram reported this morning that cattle will bypass the weeds for the grass, but the goats will go straight for the weeds - eating, trampling and fertilizing the entire pasture. This is important for farmers in a state where it is legally mandated to keep invasive weeds down.

photo: autan via flickr

Last week we reported on a lawsuit filed by the NRDC which seeks to force the EPA to turn over test results for a Bayer CropScience insecticide which may be linked to colony collapse disorder. The insecticide in question, clothianidin, was banned in Germany in May because of its potential harmful impact on bees.

In Court Over Clothianidin

photo: autan via flickr

Last week we reported on a lawsuit filed by the NRDC which seeks to force the EPA to turn over test results for a Bayer CropScience insecticide which may be linked to colony collapse disorder. The insecticide in question, clothianidin, was banned in Germany in May because of its potential harmful impact on bees.

In Court Over Clothianidin

According to researchers at Duke University Medical Center there’s a significant chance that a drug commonly prescribed to halt pre-term labor and stave off premature birth might leave the brains of children susceptible to other chemicals widely present in the environment. And with 20% of all pregnancies in the U.S. encountering pre-term labor and 1 million of those being treated with terbutaline or related drugs to halt pre-term contractions and premature birth, there’s a real chance the child who may affected could be your own....

photo by Michael via flickr

That is the question that Fetzer will be putting to the world as they attempt to take sustainability one-step further.

Images courtesy of author.

This article is continued from yesterday looking at how Bonterra winery is the leader in organic grape growing, and just how do they keep their plants healthy and the bugs away without the help of pesticides.

Image courtesy of author.

This is the first of a two-part article looking at how the largest maker of organic wine in the US was able to make so much wine using biodynamic and organic methods.

Image: Notcot.com

Straight from Minnesota comes Prairie Organic Vodka, made from a coop of over 900 farmers “who share ownership of the brand.” Prairie describes their vodka as “beautifully smooth. With hints of melon and pear on the nose, creaminess on the palette, and a bright smooth finish…” ...